Political neophyte Rick Scott has surged to a 44 - 31 percent lead over Florida Attorney General
Bill McCollum in the race for the Republican nomination for governor, apparently powered by a
multi-million dollar television ad blitz to introduce him to voters, according to a Quinnipiac
University poll released today.

In the contest for the Democratic U.S. Senate nomination, Jeff Greene, another political
unknown with deep pockets, is following a similar approach of large TV ad spending to move
into a statistical dead heat with Kendrick Meek, the independent Quinnipiac (KWIN-uh-pe-ack)
University survey finds: Meek gets 29 percent to Greene's 27 percent with former Miami Mayor
Maurice Ferre at 3 percent. The biggest number, 37 percent, are undecided.

The winner of the Democratic Senate nomination will face Gov. Charlie Crist, running as
an independent, and Republican Marco Rubio in November. The winner of the GOP nomination
for governor will face Democrat Alex Sink and independent Bud Chiles in the general election.

Although six in 10 voters in both contests say they could still change their minds before
the August 24 primary, the results in both races show just how potentially powerful the
combination of money and an anti-establishment candidacy can be this election year.

"Mothers may tell their children that money can't buy happiness, but what these results
show is that money can buy enough television ads to make political neophytes serious contenders
for major political office," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac University
Polling Institute. "It certainly doesn't hurt with Greene or Scott that this is shaping up to be the
year of the anti-establishment candidate."

"Around the country, challengers to so-called career politicians seem to be doing well,
and these showings by Scott and Greene certainly fit very well into that trend," Brown added.

Scott, a former health care executive, began running television commercials this spring
when McCollum held a huge lead over State Sen. Paula Dockery, his only challenger for the
GOP nomination for governor. But she dropped out of the race once the size of Scott's financial
resources and willingness to spend became apparent.

"In addition to being a testament to the power of television, Scott's ability to take the
lead so quickly is also a reflection on McCollum's lack of strong support within his own party
despite his two decades in Florida politics," said Brown.

Scott is viewed favorably by 40 percent of Republicans; unfavorably by 12 percent and
46 percent say they don't know enough about him to form an opinion. McCollum, in his third
statewide race and having spent a decade in Congress, is viewed favorably by 41 percent;
unfavorably by 19 percent and 36 percent don't have an opinion.

Many of Scott's television ads have been devoted to his support for an immigration law
similar to Arizona's.

In a separate survey of 1,133 registered voters, with a margin of error of +/- 2.9 percent,
Republicans approve of the Arizona immigration law 86 - 7 percent and want a similar statute in
Florida 84 - 10 percent.

In the Democratic Senate primary, Greene is almost as well known as Meek, a four-term
congressman from South Florida. Asked to rate him, 23 percent of Democrats view Greene
favorably, 10 percent unfavorably and 64 percent don't know enough about him to have an
opinion. Meek, by comparison, is viewed favorably by 29 percent; unfavorably by 8 percent and
59 percent don't have an opinion.

From June 2 - 8, Quinnipiac University surveyed 814 Republican likely primary voters
with a margin of error of +/- 3.4 percentage points and 785 Democratic likely primary voters
with a margin of error of +/- 3.5 percentage points.

The Quinnipiac University Poll, directed by Douglas Schwartz, Ph.D., conducts public
opinion surveys in Pennsylvania, New York, New Jersey, Connecticut, Florida, Ohio and the
nation as a public service and for research.
For more data or RSS feed- http://www.quinnipiac.edu/polling.xml, call (203) 582-5201, or
follow us on Twitter.

1a. If the Republican primary for Governor were being held today, would you vote
for Bill McCollum or Rick Scott? (If undecided q1a) As of today, would you say
that you lean a little more toward McCollum or Scott? (This table includes
"Leaners".)

1b. If the Democratic primary for United States Senator were being held today,
would you vote for Kendrick Meek, Maurice Ferre, or Jeff Greene? (If undecided
q1b) As of today, would you say that you lean a little more toward Meek, Ferre,
or Greene? (This table includes "Leaners".)

29. Do you think immigration reform should primarily move in the direction of
integrating illegal immigrants into American society or in the direction of
stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigration?

TREND: Do you think immigration reform should primarily move in the direction of
integrating illegal immigrants into American society or in the direction of
stricter enforcement of laws against illegal immigration?

Jun 10 Dec 5
2010 2007
Integrating 24 24
Enforcement 68 66
DK/NA 8 10

30. Based on what you've heard or read, do you approve or disapprove of
Arizona's new immigration law?